"Right to Work" and "Paycheck Protection" are harmful distractions that we can't afford here in Missouri.

As a person of faith, a minister and a Springfield voter, I find it deeply troubling that corporate lobbyists and national groups like ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Commission) have more influence over our elected leaders than those of us who put them in office with our votes.

The anti-labor bills our legislators are discussing were initially not expected to make it to the floor due to the potential devastation they could wreck, but when organizations like ALEC got wind of this, they sent their corporate lobbyists to issue threats in order to ensure the bills' passage in the Missouri legislature.

They are complete distractions from the priorities of Missouri families. Missouri families are struggling. Poverty is on the rise. It is becoming increasingly difficult to put food on the table and take sick children to the doctor. Jobs are getting harder to find. Education is being sacrificed, increasing our worry that our kids won't have what they need to make it in this world.

The so-called "Right to Work" and "Paycheck Protection" legislation would create more insecurity among working families and reward the CEOs and corporations that move jobs out of our communities.

These bills would also hurt the people who serve and protect our local community: our firefighters, our nurses and our police. It would take away their ability to negotiate for the equipment and staffing levels they need to serve the community effectively.

I call upon our elected officials to listen to Missouri families. Keep our communities safe, create jobs, improve education and help us make sure we can take our kids to the doctor. Make Missouri families your priority, not corporate lobbyists.